Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-31
BLUE BLOOD.

Bercsfcrd Hall, in the beautiful neighborhood of
Iftleswamp had long been untenanted. That
eligible residential estate, standing In its own
grounds the agents advertised n tas ~ Il could
have stood IN any other remained In the sole oc-
Ca?aton OF ghosts ara rodents, who, as they pay
no rent AMI DO incalculable damage, constitute an
eyea more Objectionable class Of tenants than
those hunorUusIy recommended TO ho1se-owners
as desirable
This was, OF course, very much depored IN Lit
t;eswanp, vhkh had lively recoilections OF the
IiIll IN painter days. and a strong sense OF social
dGties too Ions neglected The owner, however,
colonel Bowsborough, had no choice In the matter;
for, after many years success IN the fashionable
trsde OF backing horses, f1ckle fortune had de-
serted him. 50 that he In his turn had TO desert
hfs home and shut up his house, TIL such time as
chance or destiny should favor him with tenant.
The excitement, therefore. IN Littieswamp was
like that In London AFTER the battle OF Waterloo.
when one day Il became known that the colon rs
friend. Captain FosSe had not only actually taken
stranger 70 see The house but that the stranger
understoo1 10 BE- asked for IL, without any bag
gEng or bargaining. The steadlest heads were
spread with the .rapidity OF a prairie fire The
safe OF suspense was something terrible or
course. the new neighbor must b. rich, bat was he
respectable, vas he OF good family, had he In
herited his fortune, or committed the disgrace OF
having In any way earned III These mOmentOus
Qlestions and a tnous and others were canvassed
with something like fury.
Mrs ROssendale, who lived as a sort OF setter of
ton to che district, mad come 10 look Beresford
Hall a. somehow under her special guardianship,
aud during the years OF its unOccupied expectancy
had given a. the mot dOrdre to the neighborhOod:
'-on no account can we accept pdrceau at the
Hall rybody wondered what the good lady
would DO II colonel BOwsbOrough let the house 10
a Lancashire cotton spinner or 10 any one in any
way tainted with trade, but everybody felt sure
that she would do Something. Her husband. poor
easy man. whose father had made his fortune out
OF umbrellas, and on whom. literally speaking,
the clouds OF heaven had dropped their fatness,
e
sty OF having nobody but a gentleman at the
Hall "A place like that" she said. sought 70 have
atenant Ia Seeping with It. nobleman or a re-
iation 10 nobieman is the least that Will do. 1t
would be PROCLAMATION 10 the place IL IL haroOred
any one Whose blood was not OF the Dluest: Ihins
otherwise OF the danger TO OPhela or Fitzhubert
OF 4 tassaiIfcrsce with the family. oh, JohnI do
not think could survive nsesdttidnce. Spare
nie hiatt Spare me thatw
MY dear Maria, John would demonstrate, awhy
anticipate misfortuneS that may never come?
Ophelia and Fitzhubert VIII doubtless make very
respectable marriages Ia their own station OF life"
But wish them 10 marry above 1t, would re-
ply the lady, impatiently. "They must marry
That Is another question altogether But where
should have oeeu had your parents restricted
your choice 10 what you are forever calling blue
blood? Depend upon IT, with regard 20 matri-
rsony that what viii be VIII be, and what will be
will no doubt be for the best
.'Oh, John, you provoking man, you horrld
fatalisti I've really no patience with you. de-
clare you've no more ambition than a toad"
This conversation took place almost daily with
the regularity OF the return OF the solar phenome-
ns Long experience hao taught joan that when
iI reached the point OF contrasting his ambition
with that OF a toad the climax was reached, and
thai u was then better for him gracefully and
pfUdently 70 surrender the field.
OF course II did not remain secret for long who
the stranger was. Captain FoSSe was too proud
OF his new friend not TO let Ii be speedily known
that the gentleman he had succeeded In Obtaining
a tenant Tor Beresaort Hall was a Frenchman OF
distinguished name and Iineage-noless person,
In fact, than VI. lie Due de MOntanxeTt.
How splendidly the name rolled all that day
from OF fair lips as the news spread from house 10
house. They dwelt on II, and seemed TO taste II,
like luscious fruit The stage OF suspense and ex-
pectatiOn passed into The stage OF beatitudc and
ecstasy. Ike slight shock OF earthquake IL ex-
ercised positively healing effect on certain in
yalids, but In the case OF those who were well IL
so1uickened the hearts action as in some cases to
aetinturiousy. Among these latter was MIS- ROs-
her bed
Motives OF policy, perhaps, helped TO dictate
this course, for IL gave her a prior claim on the
attentions OF Or. knOwaii, than whom certainly
no one more dearly loved 10 gossip or was more
likely TO know all about the duke or any one else.
"Do tell me, dear Doctor" she asked. after all
Immediate anxiety about her heart haa been duly
allayed, snow captain FoSse came 10 make this
nlustriOus acquaintance"
'On that point, replied the doctor, 1.-The captain
maintains a certain amount OF secrecy. That he
nrst met him In London by accident on ConsIitu-
ton Hill, and that the acquaintance rapidly
npened INTO friendship; Is all that he viii voueh-
IneRsely % his credit that he should have procured
for US 50 great an addition and ornament 10 our
THAT l.. TO put II mildly Dr. Knowall, when
one thinks OF the dreadful people We might have
turn at the coming election but feel there should
b somethlng IN the form OF a testimonial"
"The best Testimonial, my dear lady, that we
can o1er 10 the captain will be the warmth OF our
welcome 10 his distinguished friend. who, / hear,
IL only taking the Hall for the summer and au-
rumL, with view TO It's possible purchase next
year, should he md everything TO his liking"
1--WE must see that he does" said the lady FER
vsntly, and her nimble brain Travelled In a twink
ling over such thoughts as plcnIcs and tennis
parties, new dresses for herself and Ophelia new
SUI, OF evening clothes I9r john, a course Of
this rush OF thought, she suddenly asked: HAS
he large family: Are his sons and daughters OF
Doctor Knowan smiled: '.My dear lady, the
Duke Is young-alore than that. he is unmarried"
soon after that stroke the doctor left his patient
To her own reflections. Need i say that these
were OF the most joyful sort: Brilliant visions
flashed before her mind, and a Kind Of second
sight seemed 10 merge the present with the future
as she read In the Court Journal and Morning. Post
OF certain approaching marriage in high life,
the dresses OF the bride, OF the bridesmaids, and
OF the brides mother. The cake, OF course was
princeiy description she was already wondering
what presents the Duke would give his brides
maids, and how she could contrive the absence OF
certain Objectionable relations of her husband
when an appalling reflection arrested her; other
daughters besides ophelia might cherish asplra-
ton or outwiJ her In resource.
she determined 70 be prompt-to be. II possible
nrs. N the Held so that evening she did three
things she had a maternal conversation with
Opne.ia- whom by delicate method OF Thought
traLsference she inspired with certain hopes TO
which there was no need TO give open utterance
Sae wrote TO Poole's 70 send man 10 take Johns
measure for suLdry new and becoming garments
she wroteSto kolandis to recommend her a first
rate French master, and 10 SEND her some OF the
newest French literature
Meantime great Preparations were made at the
captains, who was 70 entertain his iiustrfous
ulend for brief period TIL BeresfOrd Halt had
undergone certain decorative changes suitable to
the exalted rank OF It's expected occupant, The
duke had put this matter almost entirely in the
captains hands who was 10 order all requisites
Win Tree purse, and rs much as possible from
the local tradesmen. This added immensely 10 the
captains popularity, and IL generally felt that
his LIBERAL opponent for the next election might as
wen vacate the field at once. The captain daily
expected the duke, together with his faithful
aceates and companion, who reJotced IA the maine
Of Mr.. Edwin Vincent.
One day the duke telegraphea to the captain,
Dexging nj 70 send and meet him by
Train Que al Lttleswamp late that after
noon But the telegram, unluckily, was
never Delivered, for IT felI ont OF the bearers
PICKET, and being found by small boy was by
MN promptly torn 10 pieces; the bearer when he
d.,cosered the loss, wisely relying circumspect
slience. The consequence was disastrous: Tor the
DUKE ana ais satellite stepped on arriving into a
carriage, which they took to be intended for them
selves, but which had really been sent by the
E1ssendales for the tailor from POole's aud the
frenet master from RolsndiS who happened 20 be
coming by the same train When they arrived the
Outter, VINO had no notion OF attempting TO an
nounce the French master by name ushered the
rfraar a A.